As we wrap up February, a month full of red hearts, stomachache inducing amounts of chocolate, and kitschy valentine’s cards, I can’t help but think on the word LOVE. Love is a word with so many meanings, and --at times — so little meaning. So my curiosity caused me to do some digging into how love and mental health are connected.

Well, it’s that time of year again-- I don’t know about you, but I get a thrill from drafting my New Year’s Resolutions every January. There’s something about the possibility of becoming a better, more well-rounded person in the upcoming year that energizes and inspires me. Of course, unless I don’t fulfill my goals… then I’m just left feeling slightly ashamed and disappointed in myself. ​

From the moment U!Shine took off at Oklahoma Christian University, I was intrigued and followed its progress. I couldn’t help but think that had something such a program been around when I was in school, maybe I would’ve seen the warning signs sooner...

Times of transition can be especially taxing on our mental health. About six weeks ago I made the nineteen-hour drive from Texas to Michigan to start my graduate program. Moving somewhere new for graduate school with no established social support network can be overwhelming.